Site Name | Butcher's Creek, Barwon River |
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Place Name | |
Language Group, Nation or People | Pooncarie/Parkantyi |
Present State/Territory | NSW |
Colony/State/Territory at the time | NSW |
Police District | Walgett |
Latitude | -29.952 |
Longitude | 146.84 |
Date | Between 1 Jan 1841 and 31 Dec 1841 |
Attack Time | Day |
Victims | Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander People |
Victim Descriptions | |
Victims Killed | 30 |
Victims Killed Notes | Men, women and children. |
Attackers | Colonists |
Attacker Descriptions | Stockmen/Drover(s) |
Attackers Killed | 0 |
Attackers Killed Notes | |
Transport | Horse |
Motive | Reprisal |
Weapons Used | Firearm(s), Musket(s), Pistol(s), Sword(s), Stirrup(s), Blade(s) |
Narrative | After two stockmen abducted Aboriginal women for sex, they were killed by Aboriginal men who mutilated their bodies and set fire to their hut. They then speared several cattle and roasted one of them. The smoke attracted other stockmen who charged and drove the Aboriginal people towards their camp on the Barwon River and shot 30 men, women and children. 'skulls showing the ball marks were visible for years after in the area' (Dargin, 1976, pp 51-2). |
Sources | Dargin 1976, pp 51-2; Thomas 2012, pp 382-6. (Sources PDF) |
Corroboration Rating | * |